- Lagos Confirms Diphtheria Outbreak at King’s College, One Student Dead, 34 Under Observation
- Mass Vaccination Begins as 14 Students Show Symptoms of the Disease
- State Govt Assures Public of Containment Measures, Urges Vigilance
Following the outbreak of diphtheria at King’s College, Victoria Island Annexe, the Lagos State Government has confirmed the death of the index case and disclosed that 34 close contacts of the deceased student have been placed under observation.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the state government further revealed that 14 out of the 34 individuals have exhibited symptoms of the disease. In response, an Emergency Response Committee has been activated, and a mass vaccination exercise for the schoolchildren is set to commence today.
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In a press statement, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, appealed for calm, assuring residents that there is no cause for alarm. He emphasized that an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) has been mobilized to contain the outbreak and prevent further fatalities.
According to Abayomi, the index case, a 12-year-old boy, initially presented with a sore throat and fever at the school’s health facility on February 22. He was promptly referred to the paediatric emergency ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he received appropriate antibiotics and a full dose of diphtheria antitoxin serum.
Despite these interventions, the boy succumbed to progressive and irreversible myocarditis, a severe complication of the bacterial infection, on March 6.
Abayomi confirmed that the 34 close contacts of the deceased student are under close observation, with 14 developing symptoms consistent with diphtheria. These symptomatic individuals were transferred to the Children’s Emergency Unit at LUTH for screening.
Of the 14 examined, 12 exhibited early signs of diphtheria and have been admitted for treatment with antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin serum. No additional cases have been reported so far, and all 14 symptomatic students are currently recovering.
A preliminary inspection of King’s College Annexe by health officials identified gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, which will be addressed immediately.
The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with federal health agencies, is launching a targeted vaccination campaign for all consenting students from both the Victoria Island Annexe and the Main School in Igbosere. Healthcare providers will also be included in the vaccination drive, which may extend statewide.
To raise public awareness, information leaflets detailing diphtheria symptoms, prevention strategies, and early treatment options are being distributed across healthcare facilities in Lagos. Additionally, a public health announcement will be released to educate residents on the outbreak and encourage vigilance for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and swollen neck glands.
Health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), have been notified and are working with the Lagos State Government to coordinate an effective response.
Currently, Lagos has approximately 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccines in stock, which will be strategically deployed to high-risk locations as part of the emergency response.
The State EOC will convene daily to assess the evolving situation and inform policy decisions. Future meetings will involve the Ministry of Basic and Tertiary Education, along with other stakeholders, to enhance inter-sectoral coordination in combating the outbreak.
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Abayomi advised Lagos residents to prioritize good hygiene, avoid crowded environments, and seek immediate medical attention if experiencing diphtheria-like symptoms.
“Early detection and treatment can save lives. Let’s all work together to curb this outbreak and protect our communities,” he stated.
He reassured the public that the outbreak is under control and urged residents not to panic, as proactive measures are being implemented to safeguard citizens from infectious disease outbreaks.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection affecting the throat, leading to inflammation, fever, swollen neck glands, and breathing difficulties. The toxin produced by the bacteria can cause multiple organ failures, affecting the heart, lungs, and nervous system. The disease is preventable through full vaccination, good hygiene practices, avoiding poorly ventilated crowded spaces, and timely medical intervention with antibiotics and antitoxin serum to neutralize the bacterial toxin.
